Letterkenny is still the cheapest student town in Ireland, despite a slight increase on costs from last year.
The Switcher.ie Student Cost of Living Study, released today, tots up the overall cost of college with fees, accommodation, groceries, transport costs and more to help students budget.
In 2024, it costs €13,147 per year to go to college in the Cathedral Town, 3% or €356 more per year than 2023, the report found.
Letterkenny remains the cheapest student town in Ireland, costing €1,127 per month, €39 more per month than in 2023. Letterkenny, Sligo, and Waterford remain the top three cheapest towns while Dublin, Maynooth, and Cork are still the most expensive.
Letterkenny costs €6,380 less than Dublin, the most expensive student town.
Letterkenny also had the most affordable student accommodation of all the towns in the guide, at €373 per month – €521 less than Dublin, which costs €894.
The report also found that best-value groceries were to be found in Sligo, Athlone, Letterkenny, Dundalk, and Tralee, but poor students in Cork, Maynooth, Dublin, and Waterford could be paying as much as 50% more for their weekly shop.
The spend on a typical student month of drinks, eating out, takeaways, cinema, and nightclubbing is also lowest in Letterkenny, Dundalk, Carlow, Sligo, and Dundalk.
Eoin Clarke, commercial director of Switcher.ie comments:
“Though the rate of inflation has eased, the cost of living is still soaring, leaving hard-pressed students skipping meals just to make ends meet.
Essentials like rent, food shops, and energy bills have skyrocketed in the past few years, and additional costs for gym membership, cheap eats, and the price of a pint are on the up, too.
Our study found that in 2024, college goers will have to pay around €536 more per year, while non-EU students could spend up to €924 more.
The good news is that students can avoid breaking the bank of mum and dad with supports like grants, tax relief, scholarships, and student discounts, while weekly budgets, tracking spending, and savvy shopping can help their income go that bit further.”
The Letterkenny fees are broken down as follows:
- Total + fees per year: €13,147
- Average per month: €1,127
- Monthly cost increase: +3% (+€39)
- Accommodation: €381 per month.
- Groceries: €172 per month.
- Entertainment: €310 per month.
- Transport: €138 per month.
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